One hundred years ago, William E. Mounteney was appointed Westchester County’s first probation officer and helped establish the best practices to use in probation. After he died in his nursing home, Mounteney was buried in an unmarked grave in Kensico Cemetary. This grave remained unmarked until August, when Commissioner of Probation, Rocco Pozzi revealed a monument dedicated to Mounteney and his service.
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Funds were raised by the Westchester County to inscribe the monument with, “William E. Mounteny, 1874 – 1963, First Probation Officer, Westchester County, N.Y., Appointed 1915.”
There was a more formal second ceremony, which hosted a full program of prominent speakers and was held at the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains to honor Mounteney. They held the ceremony not only to honor Mounteney but also probation officers that have come after him.
During the ceremony Pozzi talked highly of Mounteney and the other 200 probation officers in Westchester County that followed him. Pozzi praised the current probation officers with having similar ideals as Mounteney, “The Probation Officers of today serve with integrity, commitment and passion as they strive to protect the citizens of Westchester County and provide services to the courts,” he explained.
Today, the Westchester County Probation Department has a staff of 200, which includes 150 probation officers. Their operations are housed on three floors of the courthouse in White Plains.
Mounteney’s work has been preserved in today’s probation officers who have taken to heart his dedication and strong work ethic.